The Painting That Took Two Years: "Summer on the Bay"
Every artist will tell you—some paintings take longer than others. And honestly, no painting ever feels fully finished. A still, two-dimensional image is always evolving, shifting with time through its journey—whether that’s in the hands of collectors, the artist’s history, or even unexpected additions (looking at you, two-year-olds with crayons).
Some paintings, however, take longer not just in their journey, but in their creation. And this one? It took two years.
This is the largest painting on canvas I’ve ever made—48 x 60 inches. A painting of this scale naturally takes more time, but the real reason it stretched over two years is that it was painted entirely from memory.
I originally started with the intention of painting flowers, then shifted to the sea. At first, I began an oil painting of Mount Soledad overlooking La Jolla, a view I love. But my heart always goes to Sail Bay in Mission Bay. I knew it needed a moment on an extra-large canvas. In fact, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a painting of Mission Bay this size—plenty of La Jolla paintings exist, and for good reason.
The layout came naturally—I’ve painted this subject hundreds of times. But you know where I got stuck? The water.
I wrestled with how to paint an active bay—one where sailboats move like a busy intersection—without letting the whitecaps compete with the sails. How could I make the water feel dynamic without being chaotic? How could it be rich and substantial but not overwhelming? How could I paint that spectacular moment when California’s waters almost look tropical?
At this point, I was a year and a half in, and I still hadn’t settled on the right blue. I repainted it multiple times, searching for a hue that felt deep, inviting, and just right. Six months later, I finally landed on it—the blue that makes you want to dive in. That’s why, when a dear friend and collector looked at this painting and said, “I can’t get over the perfect blue you create,” I felt completely validated. Yes. This was the perfect blue.
And now, two years later, it’s finally here.
I love this painting deeply. "Summer on the Bay" was painted with sweat, tears, love, and soul. If it’s calling to you, you can inquire [here] or email me at michaelajeanart@gmail.com.
With love and wind in your sails,
Michaela